Variable element



June 22, 1926. 1,589,416

E. J. NIELSEN VARIABLE ELEMENT Filed April 30. 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 J nmlmmmm il- 1 mwlllllllllllllllllllll I m Emi/JMPZsezz 2;; 5W 4 June 22 1926.

E. J. NIELSEN VARIABLE ELEMENT Filed April 50, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZYZ/EZZZUZZ' .Fmz'ZJ/Vz'eisezz bil Patented June 22, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL J. NIELSEN, OF OAK IARK, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO KELLOGG SWITCHBOARD AND SUPPLY COMPANY, 0F CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

VARIABLE ELEMENT.

Application filed April 30, 1923. Serial No. 635,414.

My invention relates to variable inducten es and has to do more particularly with 1 type of incuctance known in the art of radio telephony as a variometer in which a pair of coils or helices of wire, one stationary and the other rotatable, rotates inside of the stationary coil.

an object of my invention is the proion of an improved variometer which is provided with structural features which facilitate the assembly of a variometer of this type and at the same time provide an improved variometer structure which will be most efficient in its operation.

A variometer of the above type is provided with a stator spherical in form and comprises two halves which contain the station coil or winding and a rotor spherical form which comprises two ha ves up on which the movable coil or winding is and. This rotor element may be rotated within the stator which contains the stationary winding through a fixed degree of roin, throt "h the medium of a pivoted aft. of various types have been devised to pivotally support the rotor elemerand are more or less complicated in th Jtruction and their method of so e e sui ably secured together to form a spherical rotor element and the shaft for pivotally supporting the rotor is then secured in ition by suitable means such as nuts or their means. The shaft ends when in potion in tl e rotor are inaccessible due to the n heric-al form of the rotor thus making the :nihly of the shaft parts difficult. This manner of securing the shaft to the rotor is objection-a1 in that there liability of nuts which hold the shaft in. position becor no loose and thereby permit the rotation oi theshaft in the rotor without effecting the rotation of the rotor element whole.

in order to overcon'ie the above objections to a sh it thus secured I have designed a shaft which dispenses with all nuts or set screw curing mean, and feature of my invention the provision of a spring member resting in suitable orifices in the rotor halves which cooperates with one section of the shaft when the rotor halves are secured together to prevent turning or longitudinal movement of the shaft.

Another feature of my invention is the provision of spring means which will permit the shaft held in position by means of the spring to yield slightly when the rotor element is moved to either of its extreme positions. This slight yielding of the shaft acts as a cushion to absorb the blow should the rotor be unduly forced to either of its extreme positions by the operator.

Another feature of my invention is the provision of novel means for securing the second section of the shaft in position against rotation.

Variometers of this type are also provided with various terminal connection means for the terminals of the winding of the rotor element so that they may be conducted to the external terminal connections provided for them. The rotor element which comprises two halves is also provided with suitable orifices to permit the insertion of two of the ends of each half of the rotor windings so they may be connected to the terminals provided for them. Oritices in each of the rotor halves are also provided which permit the other ends of the windings to be inserted therethrough into the interior of the rotor sphere so that they may be connected to form a continuous winding for said rotor element. Terminals provided 011 the rotor for the winding terminals as just described are practically inaccessible as they are usually lo cated in the interior of the rotor sphere formed by the two halves thus making the connection of the winding terminals to the terminals provide-d therefor difiicult to get at. The other winding end of the rotor windings are secured together to form a continuous winding and this connection is also made in the interior of the rotor sphere thus making this connection also diflicult. A, type of variometcr provided with this method of terminal connection necessitates additional. assembly of parts and tooling of the rotor halves for the orifices thus adding materially to the cost of manufacture.

To overcome these objections above cited 1 have designed novel means for eliminating these terminals, and another feature of my invention is the provision of a hollow shaft which permit the winding terminals of the rotor winding to be led to the external terminals without the use of additional terminals secured to the rotor.

Still another feature of my invention is the provision of securil'ig means for the inner terntiinal ends of the rotor indings so that all connections and securing of the winding ends of the rotor element ma; be made externally on the stator,

The above named it'eatur s as well as others, the combinations of which produce an improved variometer structure will be more fully d scribed in the ensuing specification.

For a clearer understanding of my inven tion, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters in the several views denote like parts and in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the variometer of my invention;

Fig, 2 is a, view similar to Fig. 1 with the stator element in section to more clearly illustrate the rotor element of the variometer;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the varionieter along the line 38 of Fig. 1;

Fig. is a fragmentary sectional view of the rotor element to more clearly illustrate the securing means of the outer ends of the rotor winding; I

Fig. 5 is a sectional view along the line of Fig. 3 to clearly illustrate the securing means of one of the rotor shafts, and

Fig. 0 sectional view along; the line of Fl 3 to clearl illustrate the re curing means of the other portion of the rotor shaft.

Referring now more in detail to my invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it comprises a rotor it spherical in form and moulded in two halves 2 and 3 of suitable insulation material such as bakelite. Each half 2 and of the rotor R has integrally formed therewith a pair of lugs and diametrically opposite each other,

which have suitable openings 0 of a size to receive screws 7 which are adapted to receive suitable nuts to clamp the two halves 2 and 3 of the rotor it together. With this method of assembly of the two halves of the rotor R, a smootl spherical surface is presented for windin s 10 and 10 of the coil of the rotor ll. Each half 2 and 3 is provided with a peripheral portion 66' for receiving a portion of the rotor winding.

The stator S of the variometer is als spherical in form and moulded in-two halves 11 and 12 of suitable insulation material such as bakelite. Each stator half 11 and 12 has integrally formed therewith a flange 13 and aplurality of offset portions 1st which are provided with orifices 15. A pair of coils or windings 16 and 17 are shaped to conform with the inner spherical surface of the halves 1.1 and 12, and rest therein and are held in position by means of suitable adh sive liquid, such as shellac, or colesa r16 lodion, which when dry permits the windings 16 and 1? to adhere to the inner surfaces of the stator halves 11 and 12 of the stator S.

A pair of shafts 21 and 22 are provided for rotatably supporting the rotor R as a whole inside of the stator S. The rotor halves and 3 are provided with semi-circular recesses which when the halves 2 and S are secured together form a circular orifice 23 to receive the end 2% of the shaft 21. A v shaped orifice is provided in each of the recesses 20 and is of a size to receive a leaf spring 26 which rests in said orifices 25. End 24 of the shaft 21 which sets in the orifice 23 is provided with a notch 25 which cooperates with the spring will presently be described. In the assembly of therotor halves 2 and 3 the leaf spring 26 is inserted in the V shaped orifice of one of the rotor halves as 3 and the shaft 21 is then placed in the semicircular recess 20 provided for it in the rotor half 3. The spring 26 when in position L1 the .J shaped orifice 25 rests in the groove or notch 27 in the end. portion 24 of the shaft 21 and when thus far assembled the other half as 2 of the rotor element ll is placed upon the half 3. -The V shaped orifice 25 of this half 2 registers with the V shaped orifice 25 of the half 8 and the protruding end of the spring 26 enters this V shaped orifice 25 and when in this position the two halves are clamped or secured together by means of screws 7 and nuts as before descri er. The spring 26 when the two rotor halves 2 and 3 are assembled to form the rotor element R rests in the notch 27 in the shaft 21 and prevents longitudinal movement of the shaft 21 and also prevents turning of tie shaft 21. in the orilice 28 formed by the two semi-circular recesses 20 in the rotor halves 2 and 3 but the spring 26 although. holding the shaft 21 against turning permits a slight movement of the shaft for purposes as will presently be described.

The shaft 22 which. forms the other shaft support for the rotor element R is tubular in form. and is also clamped between the two or halves 2 and 3 by the screws 7 suitable nuts. A portion 30,,of the in recesses 31 in the rotor f .r and 3, a portion of each of said being; provided with a flat face por- A. portion 30 of the shaft which a the recesses 31 in provided with a .ortion- 84: which when the shaft 22 is in position engages the face portions 38 of the recesses 31 so that when the shaft '22 is in position illustrated in 8 and l and the rotor halves 2 and 3 are clamped together, the shoulders and 35' formed by the portion 30 of the shaft 22 prevents longitudinal movement of the shaft 22 and the feces of the recesses 31 n t 12.30 provided with a stop lug oil, which lug-3s halves 2 and 3 engaging the face 3' 55;) 1' cl when the rotor halv s and 5 assembled ere f 1 Hie suitor also 11 l apart.

shaft 22 prevent turning of the srie'ft 22.

' epair The stator halves 11 and 12 or 5 with semi-eirenlzu' 36 and eir-t-zzlzzr 7, whose 70 metrically opposite and the y i releeeh of the stat elves 11 and 12 pa Minnie rieelh or orifice 38 of a, size to per nit the s to extend through, tl e recesses 37 of the stator halves 1.1 and. 12 "form an o lice 33$) 03'} a size to permit the shaft 22 to o 1e flange 13 of the 1 orovitle-zl and tend through and the orifices 38 and forin istei 1 the hearings lor the said rotor it when the smn stat r hilt 12 is rotated.

15 The rotor R is adopted to rotate the assembled stator S and support 5 on the shafts 21 and 2-2 and helal in C01 centric relation with the stetor S by means of a spacer Washer 10 which is placed upon the shaft between the rotor It the int or fre of the stator S. A spring -11 Jornioct illustrated in Fig. 3 is place-'1 upon the shaft 21 and rests between the i rotor it e face of the st tor S to dotted lines in Fig. 1, will engage tl. :lise 56 25 prevent lon i1 al movement of he rotor cliernet ieelly opposite the disc 56 tlet Wes W R a who its bearings and 39" end? 1 by 1111 {5110p lu 0n th '()t()1 'ha]ff also prowl ei "etion means for iolcli the throw 180 degrees of rotarotor R in any of its adjusted post one. 1i f-c oclifif gg di i h When the rotor it is in its posi ion as illns- "led, in a el ekwis trateel in 3, the stator half 11 pieced ill again a 95 in position and screws -12 pass through the J oriliees 15 in the flange 1%: of the stator er halves 11 end 12 and bolts having serewthreaded engagement with the screws L3 clamp the stetor homes 11 and 12 to form e ell SL F the str wax: 0 :o h Q 1.10.11; :1 nildofl 1;: 4

s 1 .1: if n to use oo.

above description it may be t I pro: novel. stop arrange it to? the rotor it which is filLlPlG in 11"l31011 and toes not necessitate a m0 the spherical shaped stator S. Certain of Jefrl screws are adapted to receive 'ter- ,go minzrls 1-5 elnl 116 to WlllCh the Winding teru or will formed in the peri through the ore V v is then looped he stator l hrongh our 11 onil 1.2

a vround the 1, nxio .e nicmhling of iestator illustrated in Fig. h d looped 15 1. and eonne' ml to the external terminals l i th t?) and 1:10 to the stator halves 11 f 1 t 3 and 11" lira-e1 i are :ured to the stator L x 1 (37 mm, halves 11 amt means of the sernvs 12 1 152 i erii nuts one permit the Yerioroeter as e g h hi "whole to be secured to a panel. As bo er-l stated, the rotor element is P :a:...,(1pte\'il :i'otatecl Within he stator elecured as ment Q h e fixed degree" which in I. 1 the (21.66%? W11 r 4 t at 180 degrees; and I provide means for stopping the rotor ie inner encl 63 oil? the winch R in zero position and its extreme posi- 6x15311113 th h the orifice ti rees. The rotor half ion, which is 180 do lug; on the rotor hell? F3 and 2 i extending into the kf practice a v r. H s provided With a stop lug o2 integrally these two inner ends e2 and w oi. the Wind- 65 ormed therewith, and the rotor half 3 is ings 10 and 10" may no" he eonheeted. to-

gether to form the continuous rotor winding. Recesses or grooves 62 and are provided in the rotor halves 3 and 2, respectively, and are situated so that when the said halves are clamped together the recess 62 will be in alignment with the orifice in the lug 67 and the recess 63 will be in alignment with the orifice in the other lug; 67. The purpose of these recesses 62 and 68 will now he described. When the winding 10 has been placed upon the rotor half 2, the end run through the orifice in the lug 61" of the rotor half 2, and were it not for the provision of the recess 62 only a very small portion of the end 62 would extend through the orifice in the lug 67 due to the fact that the end 62 would abut against the peripheral edge of the rotor half 3, thus making it very difficult to get at the protruding end 62. However, by the pro vision of the recess 62, the end 62 may be in sorted through the orifice in the lug 67 to such an extent that the same may be readily taken hold of by the hand of the assembler, thereby enabling the assembler to complete the siembly operation in less time than would otherwise be required. The provision of the recess 63 serves for the same purpose relative to the end 68 of the winding 10 as has just been described in connection with the recess 62. Lead wires 70 and 71 covered with suitable sleeving pass through the hollow shaft 22 and are of asize so that when inserted through the orifice of the shaft 22 they form a force fit in the shaft 22. The two outer ends and 61 of the windings 10 and 10 are now connected to these lead wires and 71 to carry these two ends to the external terminals 45 and 16. With this method of construction in which lugs 64 and 67 integrally formed with orifices for the securing; of the outer ends 60 and 61 and inner en .s 62 and 68 of the windings 10 and 10 does away with added drilling opera tions to permit connections of the winding ends of the windings 10 and 10 of the rotor E and the lugs 67 which are provided for the inner ends 62 and 63 of the windings 10 and 10 of the R permits the said ends to be connecited from the outside as are also the con nections of the outer ends of the winding 10 and 10 of the rotor B.

The shaft 21 which is held in position against longitudinal movement and turning by means of the leaf spring 26 has however a sn'iall latitude of movement in that the spring 26 which rests in the V shaped orifices 25 in the rotor halves 2 and 3 may be sprung against its normal tension due? to the small space between the face of thespring 26 and the walls of the a shaped orifices 25 of the rotor halves 2 and 3, for purposes as will now be des .ribed. previously described the rotor moves through 180 degrees of rotai in lo kwise r 'q imte i l c wise direction, this movement being limited byv means of the stops 52 and 53 as before described. Should the rotor R be turned to its 180 degree position with undue force the stop 52 will engage the stop with a blow of considerable force which if the blow is strong enough will damage the stop. To overcome this I have constructed the V shaped orifices 25 in associationwith the spring 26 so that if the rotor should be forced back with considerable force the spring 26 will yield slightly due to the space between the spring 26 and the walls of the V shaped orifices 25 and act as a cushion and absorb the blow. This slight turning of the shaft 21 will of course carry the dial beyond its 180 degrees of rotation but when the force is released the spring will restore the dial to its correct position. When the rotor R is turned in the op posite direction the spring will have the same effect. In Fig. 1 l have ilustrated slots and 81 in the face of the stator'halves 11 and 12 which slots 80 and 81 are placed therein during the moulding operation of the same and provides means for using the same apparatus in building a vario coupler. The slots 80 and 81 permit the windings 16 and 17 of the stator element to be tapped as is well known in the construction of vario couplers.

Vvhile l have illustrated and described, a preferred embodiment of my invention it is to be understood that changes and modifications will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the exact structure, as shown but aim to cover all such changes and modifications as come within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. A device of the character described including a stator element and arotor element shafts for said rotor element, a pair of hemispherically shaped members comprising said stator element, and a pair of hemisphen ically shaped members comprising said rotor element, semi-circular recesses in said rotor halves diametrically opposite forming orifices for said shafts when said rotor halves are secured together, orifices in two adjacent recesses, and spring means resting in said orifices for holding one of said shafts in position against displacement.

2. In a devicev of the character. described including; a stator element and a rotor elemerit a pair of hemispherically shaped members comprising said statorfelement, and a pair. of hemispherically shaped members comprising said rotor element, shafts for said rotor hearings in said stator element for said shafts for rotatably supporting said r t lemen e d sa d- S a or elem t can semi-circular recesses in said rotor halves diametrically opposite forming orifices for said shafts when said rotor halves are secured together and orifices in two adjacent recesses, and spring means resting in said orifices for holding one of said shafts in position against movement.

3. In a device of the character described including a stator element and a rotor element, hemispheric-ally shaped members Bomprising said stator halves and hemispherically shaped members comprising said rotor element, shafts for said rotor element, bearing in said stator element for said shafts for rotatably supporting said rotor element inside of said stator element, recesses in said etor element forming orifices diametrically opposite for said shafts, orifices in two adjacent recesses, and spring means resting in said orifices for holding one of said shafts against displacement, face portions in two of said other adjacent orifices, and a face por tion on said other shaft engaging said face portions of said two other recesses for holdin said other shaft against movement.

4. In a device of the character described including a pair of hemispherically shaped members to form a stator element, and a pair of hemispherically shaped members to form a rotor element, shafts for said rotor element, hearings in said stator element for said shafts to rotatably support said rotor ins'de of said stator element, recesses in said rotor forming orifices diametrically opposite for said shafts, V shaped orifices in two adjacent recesses, a leaf spring resting in said orifices, a notch in one of said shafts in which said springs rests when said shaft is resting in said orifice formed by two adjacent recesses, said leaf spring holding said shaft against longitudinal movement and rotation in said orifice.

.3. In a device of the character described including a pair of hemispherically shaped members to form a stator element and a pa of hemispherically shaped members to form a rotor element, shafts for said rotor clement, hearings in said stator elements for rotatahly supporting said rotor element inside of said stator element, recesses in said rotor halves forming orifices diametrically opposite for receiring said shafts, V shaped orifices in two adjacent recesses, a leaf spring resting in said V shaped orifices, and enf ging a notch in one of said shafts resting in said orifices formed by said two adjacent recesses to hold said shaft in position, stops for said rotor element for limiting the movement of said rotor element in its clockwis or counter clockwise direction, said spring yielding a slight degree when said rotor engages its stops when moved to either of its limited positions.

6. In a device of the character described including pair of hemispherically shaped members to form a stator element and a pair of hemispherically shaped members to form a rotor element, shafts for said rotor element, hearings in said stator element for rotatably supporting said rotor element inside of said stator element, recesses in said rotor halves forming orifices diametrically opposite for receiving said shafts, V shaped orifices in two adjacent recesses, a leaf spring restin in said V shaped orifices and engaging a notch in one of said shafts resting in said orifices formed by said two adjacent recesses to hold said shaft in position, stops for said rotor element for limiting the movement of said rotor element in its clockwise or counter clockwise direction, said spring yielding a slight degree when said rotor engages its stops when moved to either of its limited positions to permit the said shaft to be turned a limited degree after said rotor engages either of its stops.

7. In a device of the character described including a pair of hemispherically shaped members to form a stator element and a pair of hemispherically shaped members to form a rotor element, a winding for said rotor element, lugs integrally formed with said rotor elements, orifices in said lugs for receiving the outside terminal ends of said winding, slots in the peripheral edge of said rotors aligned with. said lugs for receiving the looped ends of said winding to permit said terminals to extend into said rotor sphere element.

9. A device of the character described, including a pair of hemispherical shaped members to form a stator element and a pair of hemispherical shaped members to form a rotor element, a winding for said rotor element, lugs integrally formed upon the circumferential face of said rotor element and provider with orifices f r receiving the in side terminal ends of said winding to pen mit said inside ends to be connected J. A device of the character described, comprising two members, each of said mem ha ing a recess, a shaft adapted to t i recess --s, means for holding said together, on said shaft, and a mem- .apted to lit into said recesses for coion with said shaft to prevent movemembers together on said shaft, and a memher adapted to fit into said recesses for co operation with said shaft to prevent longi tudinal movement thereof and to substantially prevent rotary movement of said shaft relative to said members.

32. A device of the character described ineluding a pair of members, a semi-circular o'rifice in each inember, means for clamping said members togetl'ier, said semicircular orifices forming a circular orifice when said members are clamped together, a hollow shaft, adapted to fit in said circular orifice, and an enlarged intermediate portion for said shaft resting in a portion of said circular orifice to prevent longitudinal movement of said shaft in said circular orifice.

A. device of the character described including a pair of members, a semi-circular orifice in each member, means for clamping said members together, said semi-circular orifices forming a circular orifice when said members are clamped together, a hollow snaft adapted to fit in said circular orifice, an intermediate enlarged portion for said shaft provided with a flat portion, cooperating with a fiat surface in said circular orifice, to prevent rotary movement of said shaftrelative to said members.

14. A device of the character described including a pair of members, a semi-circular orifice in each member, means for clamping said members together, said semi-circular orifices forming a circular orifice when said members are clamped together, a hollow shaft adapted to fit in said circular orifice, an enlarged intermediate portion for said shaft resting in a portion of said circular orifice to prevent longitudinal move ment of said shaft in said orifice and a flat portion on said enlarged portion of said shaft cooperating with a flat surface in said circular orifice to prevent rotary movement of said shaft relative to said members.

15..A device of the character described including two halves adapted to be'clamped together, windings adapted to be placed upon said halves, an orifice formed in one of said halves in which oneterminal of one winding extends, and a recess formed in the other half aligning with the orifice in said first half, whereby the terminal of said one winding may be extended through said orifice into said recess.

f6. A device of the character described, consisting of two members, adapted to be clamped together, one of said members having an enlarged peripheral portion, a wind ing adapted to be placed upon said member one of the convolutions of which engages said enlarged peripheral portion, a lug formed integrally with said member, a slot in said enlarged peripheral portion immediately above said lug, and an orifice through said lug, whereby one terminal of the winding may be brought through said slot and through the orifice formed in said lug.

17. A device of the character described including two members adapted to be clamped together, an enlarged peripheral portion for each of said members, a winding adapted to be placed upon each of said members, said windings being separated by said peripheral portions, lugs formed on the said peripheral portions of said members and provided with orifices, whereby the inner terminals of said windings may be extended through the orifices in said lugs and connected together, and the outer terminals of said windings extended through other orifices to the lead-out wires of the device.

18. A device of the character described including two members adapted to be clamped together, an enlarged peripheral portion for each of said members, a winding adapt-ed to be placed upon each of said members, said windings being separated by said peripheral portions, lugs formed on the said peripheral portions of said members and provided with orifices, whereby the inner terminals of said windings may be extended through the orifices in said lugs and connected together, and the outer terminals of said windings extended through other orifices to the lead-out wires of the device, and a hollow shaft adapted to be clamped between said two members through which the lead-out wires extend.

Signed by me at Chicago, in the county of Cook, and State of Illinois, this 23rd day of April, 1923.

EMIL J. NinLsEN. 

